Life University Board of Trustees Appoints Dr. Guy Riekeman to Serve as President
By Geoffrey S. Kohl
Life University changed its leadership on Thursday, March 4 at a special meeting of students, staff and administrators in the school’s gymnasium. Replacing Dr. Ben DeSpain, who had served for a year as the University’s president, was former Palmer University Chancellor Dr. Guy Riekeman, D.C.
The announcement of Riekeman as president came as little surprise to college and industry insiders, many of whom speculated that Riekeman could join Life University after his resignation from Palmer University on Feb. 5. Riekeman was formally named president at a March 2 meeting of Life’s Board of Trustees.
Riekeman was warmly introduced by Life University Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Charles Ribley at the ceremony, as well as Life West President Dr. Gerry Clum, Dr. Tom Morgan and colleague Dr. Bill Harris.
Harris was highly complimentary of Riekeman’s ability to lead the university, telling attendees, “This means that you will have as president now a man who stands head and shoulders above anyone in leadership.”
Riekeman is a 1972 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and was honored with a doctor of chiropractic humanities degree in 1977. In addition, Riekeman studied cinema and television arts at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1984-1987.
He is renowned not only
for being a powerful motivational speaker, but for his creation of several professional
development seminar programs. He created great interest about chiropractic among
the media and public as the producer and director of several nationally aired
television documentaries about the wellness benefits of chiropractic care, including
“From Simple Beginnings.”
Prior to his appointment with Life University, Riekeman served as chancellor
of the Palmer Chiropractic University System that includes Palmer Davenport,
Palmer West and Palmer Florida, the Foundation for Chiropractic History and
a center for chiropractic research.
President Riekeman’s educational credentials include service as an X-ray instructor, dean of philosophy and vice president of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. While at Sherman, Riekeman worked in development and student recruitment and assisted in the planning and building of the school’s current campus in Spartanburg, S.C.
Riekeman was introduced to the Palmer system as the executive director of the Palmer Institute for Professional Advancement, where he was instrumental in establishing a variety of professional, managerial and personal development programs. He was named president of Palmer Davenport in 1998, and revived a declining enrollment to a maximum capacity of 1,800. At the time Riekeman resigned as chancellor and president of the Palmer University System, one in five chiropractic students in the United States attended college at a Palmer campus.
“Dr. Riekeman epitomizes Life’s fundamental commitments to chiropractic scholarship, teaching and service to others,” commented Ribley. “His character and outstanding human qualities have made Dr. Riekeman a valued colleague among chiropractic educators and an inspiration to students. Dr. Riekeman is the ideal person to lead this University and to inspire all of us in the Life University family to join in with him in enhancing Life’s many contributions to higher education, research and humanity at large.”
In his acceptance speech at the assembly on March 4, Riekeman discussed the role that the university would play in creating a dialogue to improve chiropractic knowledge, as well as the leadership that would be required to teach the “core values” that he says all chiropractors need. He spoke of continuing the dream of Life University, a theme on which Clum also spoke, “We were fortunate enough to be here at the birth of Life,” said Clum, “and we are fortunate enough to be here at the resurrection of Life.”
President Riekeman thanked the trustees for “this opportunity to lead a university that I have developed such affection for.
“As a result of your leadership,” Riekeman told the board of trustees, “the university is now ready to face new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us. I know that I have much to learn over the coming months, but I also know that I can depend on the advice and counsel of all members of the Life community, from our faculty, staff and students here on campus to the trustees, alumni and the chiropractic family around the world.”
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